Filtration the key to protecting plant life

AN expert in the study of the Cumberland Plain says that run-off from an airport in Badgerys Creek may have an impact on the health of the woodland.

Associate Professor Charles Morris, of the Science and Health school at the University of Western Sydney, said the endangered plants, which once spread over much of the Sydney basin, could be damaged by water flows from the airport site if they contained grease and oil.

"Unless these things are filtered out properly, they could drain into the Nepean River and affect the riparian stream zone throughout the region," Professor Morris said.

He said while he wasn't particularly familiar with any potential project plans he believed environmental factors needed to be addressed in the design phase of the airport or the remaining woodland could suffer.

"It will mostly affect the area of the airport footprint, but there may be an impact on air quality too and sound pollution could have an affect on fauna," he said.

"But this is all speculative at this stage, because we don't know what the plans will be and filtration could be imposed as a condition of consent."